KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Chinese relatives of passengers on a missing Malaysia Airlines flight have protested outside the carrier's office, urging Malaysia to rescind a declaration that all those on board have perished.

Flight 370, which disappeared last March 8 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. A search is ongoing.

Malaysia's government last month declared the incident was an accident and said all 239 people on board are presumed dead, paving the way for compensation claims.

About 15 Chinese relatives protested Thursday, saying there was no evidence of the plane's fate.

Many of the victims' families in China — where the majority of the passengers were from — still hold onto hope that their loved ones are alive.